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The  Work  of 
International  House 


By 

John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr. 


An  address  delivered  at  the  Sunday  Supper  of 
the  Intercollegiate  Cosmopolitan  Club  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  Sunday,  November  i8,  1923 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/workofinternatioOOrock_0 


THE  WORK  OF  INTERNATIONAL  HOUSE 

By  JOHN  D.  ROCKEFELLER,  Jr. 

Whenever  I pass  up  Riverside  Drive,  I invariably  pause 
near  Grant’s  Tomb  to  look  at  the  new  home  of  this  Club.  The 
fine  architecture  and  good  lines  of  the  building  are  most  pleas- 
ing to  the  eye;  its  simplicity  and  its  size  are  symbols  of  the 
Club’s  lack  of  ostentation,  its  potentialities.  The  height  of 
the  structure,  dominating  the  surroundings,  and  its  two  towers, 
suggest  the  far  flung  horizon  of  the  Club’s  influence.  Then  my 
eye  turns  to  Grant’s  Tomb  and  rests  upon  the  inscription  on  it 
— “Let  us  have  Peace.”  And  I wonder  what  inscription  will 
be  placed  over  the  door  of  International  House.  Will  the 
word  “peace”  be  there  ? We  sometimes  think  of  peace  as 
the  summum  bonum  to  be  had  at  any  cost.  But  who  would 
want  a dishonorable  peace  ? Only  as  peace  is  just  and  worthy 
is  it  to  be  desired.  Surely  the  idea  of  peace  will  be  in  the 
inscription,  for  no  one  thing  is  more  generally  longed  for 
throughout  the  world  today  than  peace.  Never  was  it  more 
eagerly  desired.  Peace  is  not  a characteristic  or  quality  that 
can  be  acquired.  It  is  a state,  a condition,  which  is  created 
by  or  is  the  result  of  the  existence  of  certain  qualities  or  factors. 
These  factors  are  : 

First,  justice — even-handed,  universal.  Justice  for  the 
high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  wise  and  the 
ignorant.  In  how  many  countries  it  seems  to  be  true  that  the 
poor  do  not  get  justice;  not  infrequently  is  this  equally  true 
of  the  rich.  Justice  for  all,  justice  irrespective  of  race,  color 
or  creed.  Justice  is  one  of  the  prime  requisites  of  a happy 
human  state.  We  owe  justice  to  our  fellow  men  regardless 
of  whether  we  know  them  or  not,  whether  we  like  them, 
whether  we  ever  see  them,- — irrespective  of  who  or  what  they 
may  be.  Justice  is  due  as  a matter  of  right,  duty,  wholly  apart 
from  feeling  and  inclination;  it  is  owed  to  an  enemy  as  well 
as  to  a friend.  Nothing  is  more  conducive  to  discontent  and 
bitterness  and  enmity  than  injustice.  Where,  therefore,  justice 
reigns,  the  causes  of  friction,  of  animosity,  between  men  are 
greatly  reduced  and  peace  is  more  likely  to  prevail. 

But  something  more  than  justice  is  needed,  if  there  is  to 
be  peace.  To  justice  must  be  added  good  will.  Good  will 
implies  kindness,  tolerance,  generosity  and  many  other  quali- 
ties which  will  come  to  your  minds,  which  temper  justice,  cold 

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At  present  the  membership  of  the  Club  consists  of  82 1 students  from  64 
different  lands  studying  in  52  colleges,  universities,  and  professional  schools  of 
greater  New  York. 

China  with  126  members  heads  the  list  of  foreign  countries  represented  in 
the  Club.  Japan  comes  next  with  66,  Canada  60,  Philippines  45.  The  names  of 
other  countries  are  indicated  in  the  above  chart. 

Excepting  the  United  States,  Canada  has  given  the  largest  number  of  women 

47,  Japan  17,  France  15,  China  13,  Norway  ! 1,  Finland  9,  Russia  7.  The 

American  women  membership  is  122. 

The  largest  number  of  men  comes  from  China 1 13,  United  States  68,  Japan 


t/Xowiw  /ands  fe^tC’Jef7-^eJ\ 
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J^n-^Aneo/^aaio'/e  Co<Xfnoi>o/i-^a/ix 


49,  Philippines  39,  Greece  16,  Poland  14,  Canada,  Russia  and  India  13  each, 
Sweden  II. 

Total  number  of  women  in  the  Club  is  33  7 and  men  484. 

Grouping  of  members  according  to  continents  is  as  follows;  Asia  280,  North 
America  25  1,  Europe  233,  South  America  32,  Australia,  New  Zealand,  and  Pacific 
Islands  1 4,  Africa  1 1 . 

The  religions  represented  are  Brahmanism,  Buddhism,  Christianity,  Con- 
fucianism, Judaism,  Hinduism,  Jainism,  Mohammedism,  Zoroastrianism.  Of  the 

Christian  churches  the  following  are  represented: Catholic,  Christian  Science, 

Greek  Orthodox,  Gregorian,  Nestorian,  Protestant  and  Quaker. 


and  stern,  and  make  it  warm  and  human.  Good  will  is  like 
oil  poured  upon  the  troubled  waters.  It  lubricates  the  rela- 
tions of  human  life  and  prevents  the  little  frictions  which  are 
so  easily  exaggerated  and  grow  into  causes  of  dislike  and 
enmity.  Where  justice  and  good  will  exist,  peace  is  more  apt 
to  be  found. 

Still  another  quality  is  essential  to  peace,  and  that  is 
brotherhood.  It  is  true  that  brothers  sometimes  quarrel,  as 
our  Civil  War  testified;  sometimes  they  do  not  agree,  they  are 
not  always  at  peace ; but  after  all,  blood  is  thicker  than  water. 
I well  remember  in  my  boyhood  days  being  frequently  in  a 
family  where  there  were  eight  children.  And  far  be  it  from 
me  to  say  that  they  did  not  often  quarrel,  and  quarrel  bitterly. 
But  let  an  outsider  say  anything  derogatory  to  a member  of 
that  family,  and  immediately  the  whole  family  was  up  in  arms 
to  protect  the  fame  and  reputation  of  the  one  assailed. 

But  brotherhood  is  a composite;  it  is  made  up  of  many 
qualities.  Brotherhood  implies  understanding,  loyalty,  love, 
unselfishness,  tolerance,  helpfulness,  and  as  we  think  over  the 
relation  of  brotherhood  we  realize  that  it  also  includes  justice 
and  good  will.  Where,  then,  these  three  qualities,  justice, 
good  will  and  brotherhood,  prevail,  it  follows  as  a natural 
result  that  peace  must  exist;  it  cannot  be  otherwise.  And  since 
brotherhood  includes  justice  and  good  will,  where  brother- 
hood prevails,  peace  must  prevail.  Therefore,  over  the  door 
of  International  House  I would  write  these  words,  so  simple 
but  how  pregnant  with  meaning  : THAT  BROTHERHOOD 
MAY  PREVAIL. 

Prevail  where — in  the  United  States  ? In  America  ? 
But  this,  we  must  remember,  is  International  House,  the  home 
of  all  nations;  hence  the  meaning  is  clearly  that  INTER- 
NATIONAL brotherhood  may  prevail.  That  Brotherhood 
may  prevail  THROUGHOUT  THE  WORLD.  International 
House,  the  home  of  all  nations,  rising  majestically  above  the 
greatest  city  in  the  world,  standing  for  the  brotherhood  of 
man  and  the  fatherhood  of  God,  shining  forth  as  a beacon 
light  to  guide  humanity  into  the  safe  harbor  of  world  brother- 
hood, proclaiming  to  mankind  the  gospel  of  peace  on  earth 
and  good  will  toward  men. 

This,  then,  is  my  conception  of  the  work  of  International 
House;  this  is  the  wisdom  which  has  led  me  to  join  hands  with 


6 


you  that  the  wonderful  dream  for  the  Cosmopolitan  Club 
which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edmonds  have  had  these  many  years 
might  be  realized.  Truly,  this  is  a great  privilege,  a great 
opportunity,  a great  duty,  that  has  come  to  us. 

How  shall  the  work  of  International  House  be  carried 
out  ? I know  of  but  one  way — by  each  one  of  us  living  each 
day  in  the  spirit  of  brotherhood.  Living.  We  may  listen  as 
people  talk  to  us,  as  ministers  preach  to  us,  as  teachers  teach 
us,  but  much  more  powerful  than  words  is  example.  So  is 
every  one  who  comes  through  the  doors  of  International 
House,  if  every  one  who  is  now  a member  of  this  Club,  or 
may  be  as  the  years  go  by,  if  everyone  who  avails  of  the 
privileges  of  the  Club  exemplifies  brotherhood  in  the  daily 
life,  what  a powerful  influence  will  thus  be  exerted,  not  only 
in  the  individual  life,  but  in  the  life  of  the  community,  of  the 
home  land  to  which  you  will  all  some  day  return,  and  of  the 
world. 

Brotherhood  is  one  of  the  closest  and  finest  relations  of 
life.  Let  me  enumerate  again  the  qualities  which  go  to  make 
it  up.  First  of  all  there  is  justice — justice  to  all  in  things 
little  and  great,  to  the  weak  and  the  downtrodden  as  well  as 
to  our  equals  and  superiors.  Justice  in  thought,  in  act,  in 
word,  for  how  often  we  do  injustice  in  thought  even  if  not 
in  act  or  in  word. 

Secondly,  good  will.  Good  will  towards  all  men,  what- 
ever their  attitude  towards  us.  How  contagious  is  a smile. 
How  quickly  a happy  face  spreads  sunshine  and  drives  away 
the  clouds.  How  easy  it  is  to  say  a kind  word,  and  how  far 
a kind  act  goes. 

The  third  quality  is  understanding.  What  a vast  amount 
of  life’s  bitterness  and  enmity  results  from  a lack  of  under- 
standing, just  because  we  do  not  try  to  put  ourselves  in  the 
other  person’s  place,  to  get  his  point  of  view,  to  acquaint  our- 
selves with  his  problems,  to  comprehend  his  motives.  If  you 
will  pardon  a personal  reference,  may  I illustrate  this  point  by 
speaking  of  an  incident  which  occurred  during  the  days  of  the 
war.  It  was  my  privilege  on  many  occasions  to  speak  to  the 
soldiers  in  the  training  camps,  and  after  speaking  I was  always 
glad  to  shake  hands  with  any  men  who  cared  to  give  me  the 
opportunity.  One  night  as  I stood  in  a group  of  men  talking 

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THE  INTERNATIONAL 

Composed  of  two  representatives  each  from  70  countries,  giving  it 

discussion  of  international  affairs.  Organized  under  the  auspices  o 


iTUD 


listinc 
Ae  In 


STUDENT  ASSEMBLY 

listinction  of  being  the  most  representative  body  in  the  world  for  the 
:he  Intercollegiate  Cosmopolitan  Club  of  the  City  of  New  York. 


and  shaking  hands,  an  Italian  in  khaki  came  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
secretary  and  said,  “Which  is  this  man  Rockefeller  ?”  The 
secretary  replied,  “That  is  he,  down  there  in  the  group  of 
men.”  Whereupon  the  Italian  soldier  walked  around  the 
room  outside  of  the  group;  he  stopped  and  he  watched  and 
he  listened;  and  then  coming  back  to  the  secretary,  he  said, 
in  the  vernacular  of  the  camp,  “Aw,  quit  your  kiddin’.  That’s 
not  him.  Which  is  he  ?”  And  the  secretary  said,  “Yes,  that 
is  he.”  “Why,”  said  the  Italian,  “that’s  not  a devil,  that’s  a 
man.”  He  had  never  seen  me;  he  had  heard  bitter  things 
about  the  Rockefellers,  he  believed  them;  and  then  when  he 
saw  I was  just  a man  like  himself,  struggling,  trying,  seeking 
to  do  right,  he  no  longer  believed  what  he  had  heard,  but 
what  he  saw;  he  understood. 

The  fourth  quality  is  loyalty.  How  the  heart  of  the  Man 
of  Nazareth  must  have  been  rent  when  Judas,  one  of  the 
twelve,  betrayed  Him ; when  Peter,  loyal  Peter,  denied  Him. 
What  a splendid  quality  is  loyalty — the  man  that  you  can  count 
on,  the  friend  that  you  know  will  stand  by  you  no  matter  what 
comes.  I remember  a letter  written  by  a father  to  his  son, 
which  ran  in  its  closing  phrases  something  like  this  : “My  son, 
whatever  you  do,  whatever  trouble  you  get  into,  if  you  will 
always  come  to  me  and  tell  me  the  truth,  whether  you  are 
right  or  wrong,  I will  stand  by  you  to  the  limit.  ” Who  does 
not  admire  and  crave  loyalty? 

Then,  fifthly,  there  is  love;  brotherly  love — not  a weak, 
sentimental  quality,  but  strong  and  virile;  a quality  not  to  be 
ashamed  of,  but  to  be  proud  of.  Love  is  the  greatest  thing 
in  the  world.  Where  there  is  love  there  cannot  be  strife, 
there  cannot  be  bitterness,  there  cannot  be  warfare.  Love 
implies  confidence,  faith,  trust.  Love  is  the  essence  of  true 
religion,  for  God  is  love.  If  we  truly  love  God  it  follows  as 
the  day  the  night  that  we  will  love  our  brother  men. 

The  sixth  attribute  is  unselfishness — putting  the  other 
man’s  interests  first;  doing  the  kind  thing  for  your  brother 
whether  it  means  a sacrifice  or  not;  forgetting  oneself,  help- 
ing the  other  person,  following  the  Golden  Rule. 

Seventh,  tolerance.  Oh,  how  much  we  all  need  that 
quality,  of  which  we  see  so  little  in  these  days.  How  quick 
we  are  to  pass  judgment,  to  defame  on  hearsay  one  whom 

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we  have  never  seen ; to  believe  ill  of  someone  we  see  every 
day  because  we  do  not  know  the  facts.  How  unkind,  how 
cruel  that  is.  Why  not  give  the  other  person  the  benefit  of 
the  doubt;  say  nothing  if  we  cannot  say  something  kind.  Yes, 
tolerance  helps  mightily  to  make  life  happy  and  bright  and 
hopeful. 

Finally,  helpfulness — -service.  If  love  is  the  greatest 
thing  in  the  world,  surely  helpfulness  or  service  is  the  next 
greatest  thing.  Too  often  people  try  to  make  themselves  be- 
lieve that  happiness  comes  from  having,  from  getting,  from 
possessing.  But  real  happiness  comes  from  giving,  from  doing 
for  others,  from  helping  our  fellows. 

These,  then,  are  the  qualities  which  combine  to  make  up 
brotherhood.  Each  year  some  of  you  will  be  returning  to 
your  home  land,  and  others  will  take  the  places  here  which 
you  vacate.  Great  will  be  your  value  to  the  countries  whence 
you  came,  which  in  many  instances  sent  you  forth  to  perfect 
yourselves  in  some  branch  of  human  knowledge,  that  you 
might  be  better  fitted  for  large  responsibilities  and  positions 
of  leadership  at  home.  But  infinitely  greater  will  be  your  in- 
fluence for  good  if  you  go  back  to  the  home  land  to  live  and 
to  propagate  this  spirit  of  human  brotherhood.  As  weary 
travelers  wend  their  way  up  the  mountain  side,  whether  they 
come  from  the  north  or  the  south,  from  the  east  or  from  the 
west,  gradually,  inevitably,  their  paths  come  closer  together. 
For,  as  has  so  beautifully  been  said,  “All  paths  meet  on  the 
mountain  top.” 

So  as  I follow  my  vision  of  International  House  into  the 
far  distant  future,  this  is  what  I see:  I see  the  mission  of 
International  House,  “That  Brotherhood  May  Prevail,”  extend- 
ing each  year  in  ever  widening  circles;  I see  other  such  houses 
springing  up  in  the  international  student  communities  of  the 
world,  and  all  these  centres  joining  hands  with  the  various 
endeavors  which  are  aiming  to  promote  brotherhood;  and  I 
see  the  tide  of  brotherhood  rising  slowly,  steadily,  higher  and 
higher,  until  at  length  all  nations  meet  on  the  mountain  top  of 
world  brotherhood,  recognizing  the  Eternal  Spirit  which  all 
worship,  as  their  common  Father. 


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The  office  of  the  Intercollegiate  Cosmopolitan  Club 
located  heretofore  at  2929  Broadway  was  moved 
May  1st  to  the  new  building.  Mail  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  “International  House,  Riverside  Drive, 
New  York.” 

Telephone,  Morningside  8201 


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